Your All Things Plants newsletter for March 11, 2012

Some numbers from last week:
The most popular images this week from our database:

Photo of Iris (Iris 'Sly Fox') by Ladylovingdove:
Image from plant ID 96457

Photo of Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum 'Bambini') by valleylynn:
Image from plant ID 534317

Photo of (Poitea carinalis) by Dutchlady1:
Image from plant ID 279037

Photo of Anise Hyssop (Agastache 'Blue Fortune') by ge1836:
Image from plant ID 75147

Photo of Anise Hyssop (Agastache 'Blue Fortune') by larryr:
Image from plant ID 75147

There were 3 new articles published last week:

Article for Garden Tours: Woofie
By Sharon Brown on March 10, 2012

Great gardens of fun and beauty are to be found in one far corner of our country. Let's visit Woofie in the state of Washington and take a look at them. You are going to love what you see! (20 comments)

Article for Rise up, all Gardeners!
By Larry Rettig on March 8, 2012

We all know that gardening is good for the body and soul. But there is something the great majority of us don’t know. And what we don’t know can hurt us. (19 comments)

Article for It's all about leaves
By Christine Gaither on March 6, 2012

Leaves so often take a back seat to the more showy and colorful flowering blooms and fruits. While we wait for spring to arrive, let's take a look at leaves as the star attraction. (15 comments)

Daily Gardening Tips from this week:

Gardening tip for March 11, 2012 March 11, 2012:
Dill and fennel are both host for the Black swallowtail Butterfly .If you plant both dill and fennel in the garden they will cross pollinate and your dill seed will not produce a good culinary (cooking) Dill.

Tip and photo by gardengus - (5 comments)

Gardening tip for March 10, 2012 March 10, 2012:
Keep a large basket or plastic container in a convenient spot on the porch, deck or in the garden shed for holding small hand tools, yard shoes/boots, pruners, scissors/shears, permanent marker, notepad, pen, gardening gloves, hat, sunscreen, etc.

Tip and photo by plantladylin - (no comments)

Gardening tip for March 9, 2012 March 9, 2012:
If you want to get an early start on a plant that is difficult to transplant, start it in a coffee can. Cut the bottom off the coffee can and replace it with the plastic lid, with a few holes punched in it for drainage. When it's time to set it out, you can either take the bottom off and slide the whole thing out, or just remove the bottom and plant the entire can. A pair of post hole diggers makes just the right size hole.

Tip and photo by woofie - (8 comments)

Gardening tip for March 8, 2012 March 8, 2012:
I use an ice cream pail with the handle on it to tote my camera, phone, little plastic baggies, small note book and pen, and a few peanuts for the Steller's jays whenever I am working in the garden, when I move, it moves with me. I put a white cloth over it to protect from dust or light sprinkles.

Tip and photo by mcash70 - (18 comments)

Gardening tip for March 7, 2012 March 7, 2012:
Keep an eye on your plants for pests. It’s easier to eliminate them before they get out of control.

Tip by goldfinch4
Photo by gardengus - (2 comments)

Gardening tip for March 6, 2012 March 6, 2012:
If your amaryllis needs a stake, use an interesting branch from a pussy willow, crooked willow, contorted filbert, or whatever you have on hand. Just stick it down into the pot as far as it will go, and secure it to the bloom stalk with a bit of twine or even a twist-tie.

Tip and photo by critterologist - (7 comments)

Gardening tip for March 5, 2012 March 5, 2012:
An empty milk jug with its top (but not its handle) cut off makes a great scoop for sunflower seeds, vermiculite, etc.

Tip and photo by critterologist - (8 comments)